Protective effect of ethanolic and water extracts of sea buckthorn (<i style="">Hippophae rhamnoides</i> L.) against the toxic effects of mustard gas

Abstract

Ethanolic extract of <i style="">H. rhamnoides</i> L. leaf (HL-EOH), water and ethanolic extract of <i style="">H. rhamnoides</i> fruit (HF-W and HF-EOH), and <i style="">H. rhamnoides</i> flavone from fruit (HR-flavone) were evaluated against percutaneously administered sulphur mustard (SM), a chemical warfare agent. The animals administered with SM (9.7, 19.3 and 38.7 mg/kg) died at various days depending upon the dose and there was a significant reduction in the body weight. The <i style="">H. rhamnoides</i> extracts (1g/kg; 3 doses; po) significantly protected the lethality, with a protective index of 2.4, 1.7, 1.7 and 2.2 for HL-EOH, HF-W, HF-EOH and HR-flavone respectively. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutalthione (GSSG) levels were reduced, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was elevated after percutaneous administration of SM. Oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone significantly protected the body weight loss. Recovery in the levels of GSH, GSSG and MDA were also observed following oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone. All the extracts were non-toxic and the LD₅₀ was more than 5 g/kg. The present study shows that percutaneous administration of SM induces oxidative stress and ethanolic extract of leaf of <i style="">H. rhamnoides</i> and <i style="">H. rhamnoides</i> flavone from fruit can significantly protect it.